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Canadian Campus Newswire

Source: York University
http://www.yorku.ca/mediar/archive/Release.asp?Release=1143

TD Bank donates $1 million to York to enhance education and outreach in neighbouring communities

October 12, 2006

TORONTO,
October 12, 2006 -- York University Foundation is pleased to announce that
TD Bank Financial Group is committing $1 million to provide a permanent York
University satellite centre in the neighbouring Jane-Finch community.

The one-stop shop will offer a wide variety of community-university
initiatives that have been developed over the years to enhance student
learning and build stronger neighbourhoods including, tax preparation
clinics, small business consulting, bridging programs for mature female
students, free legal services, nursing aid, counselling, tutoring and
mentoring programs.

"The satellite centre will extend York’s reach into our surrounding
communities and support York’s expanding experiential education initiatives
which give students hands-on learning opportunities while building community
capacity and a sense of civic responsibility," says Rhonda Lenton, dean of
the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies. "At the same time,
the centre will provide an accessible location to facilitate joint research
initiatives between York faculty, students, and community partners
addressing mutual concerns."

TD’s commitment toward the York satellite project is in honour of York’s
upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations. The centre is intended to help
acquaint neighbouring community members with the University including high
school students and other individuals who may benefit from an easily
accessible "front door" to York University.

"At TD, we are firmly committed to making a difference in our communities.
We share York’s desire to provide a variety of services under one roof to
the neighbouring community and have worked together closely for the last
three years to transform that vision into reality. By building the satellite
centre in the Jane-Finch community, York University will be able to share
its people and resources with the community in the most direct and
meaningful way and TD is very proud to be so closely involved in this
project," said Bill Hatanaka, chairman and CEO of TD Waterhouse and member
of York University Foundation Board of Directors.

The University will be looking for ways to build on partnerships that were
developed in the pilot phase of the ‘Leveraging our Strengths’ project such
as, PEACH, a program that supports at-risk youth and their families, and the
Black Creek West Community Building Capacity Project, a coalition of
community groups, service providers, private enterprise and all levels of
government committed to identifying community strengths and needs and
mobilizing resources to improve services and local infrastructure. The 2005
City of Toronto-United Way task force has also identified the Black-Creek
community as one of nine priority neighbourhoods for investments in social
services and infrastructure and in keeping with this priority it is hoped
that the new centre will also promote links among York’s many community
partners in Jane-Finch, and elsewhere, and encourage new community
collaborations.

"As we approach our 50th anniversary, York is proud to be setting the modern
standard for academic and research excellence with social impact in such an
innovative manner," says Paul Marcus, president and CEO of the York
University Foundation. "TD Bank Financial Group is a long-standing supporter
of the University. Its generous financial assistance and willingness to be
an active participant will greatly assist York University in leveraging our
strengths to enhance our involvement with our neighbouring communities."

An executive director with expertise in experiential education and
community-university initiatives will administer the satellite centre, with
guidance from an advisory council comprised of local service providers and
senior university members. The director will be charged with maximizing the
use of the facility to accommodate as many York and community programs as
possible. It is expected that someone coming into the centre for one
program, such as tutoring, may discover and take advantage of other
services, such as legal advice, university entrance information or community
nursing.

About York University

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching
university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the
undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international
city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic
academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well
as 190,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 23 research centres
conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary,
cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and
collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing
fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an
autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

About The York University Foundation

The York University Foundation is dedicated to supporting York University’s
academic and research mission. In 2002, the Foundation was established as an
innovative model for educational fundraising in Canada.

About TD Bank Financial Group’s Community Giving

TD Bank Financial Group's Community Relations program supports education,
health and the environment, with a focus on children and youth. TD Bank
Financial Group sponsors five flagship programs -- TD Canadian Children's
Book Week, TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership, the
Children's Miracle Network, TD Summer Reading Club and TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation -- as well as a host of national, regional and local
children's programs across Canada.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Keith Marnoch
Associate Director, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100 ext. 22091
marnoch@yorku.ca

Orli Namian
Manager, Corporate Communications
Corporate and Public Affairs
TD Bank Financial Group
(416) 983-1514


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